Led by prospects trained by five-time Kentucky
Derby
and two-time Triple
Crown
winner Bob Baffert and his California counterpart Jerry Hollendorfer,
the West appears to be loaded, but we’ve also seen quite a few talented babies
on the opposite coast.

Labor Day editions of a pair of Grade 1s – the Hopeful at Saratoga and the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar – may provide
some temporary clarity, but when the dust begins to settle this spring, it’s
the horses with the ability to stretch out successfully who will take that
next, critical step.

Turned heads when he broke his maiden at first asking by 10 lengths
at Los Alamitos and he further legitimized himself by winning the
Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar just as
easily. He earned a 100 BRIS Speed figure in that stakes debut and did so under
wraps. He’s a freak.

Pedigree – By
Into Mischief, second foal to race out of Assets of War by Lawyer Ron. Sold for
$190,000 as a yearling and was flipped for $1.2 million as a two-year-old in
training. His dam won just once (a sprint) from 13 lifetime starts. She has two
siblings who earned more than $100,000, but otherwise limited productivity. His
granddam, Added Asset, was a Grade 3-winning earner of over $330,000 and she
has several productive siblings.

There was lots of backstretch buzz heading into his debut,
and he certainly didn’t disappoint. Off a step slow in his debut, he was forced
to stalk and pounce from a couple of lengths off the pace, but the result was a
4 1/4-length victory with plenty left in the tank, and he earned a 96 BRIS Speed
figure in the process. Also, a freak.

Pedigree – By
Quality Road, fourth foal to race out of Ghost Dancing by Silver Ghost. Sold
for $525,000 as a yearling. He’s a half to
2017 Manhattan (G1) winner Ascend
and Grade 3-placed Moro Tap, both of whom made their mark on turf. His dam,
Ghost Dancing, who scored a minor stakes win sprinting on the turf, won five of
nine lifetime and earned just shy of $164,000. She has three siblings who
earned over $100,000, and the family tilts towards shorter distances.

TALE OF THE UNION
(20-1) Bob Baffert 9/29 American Pharoah
(G1)

Bumped at the start of his debut, he was urged a bit early
to secure position before taking full command mid-turn. He switched leads
smoothly and won under a mild hand ride, earning a 101 BRIS Speed figure in the
process. He’s not in action this weekend, so chances are he’ll offer some Breeders’
Cup Future Pool value. Count me in!

Pedigree – By
Union Rags, second foal to race out of Tanglewood Tale by Tale of the Cat. Sold
for $90,000 as a yearling and flipped for $925,000 as a two-year-old in
training. Full brother Big Thicket is a productive, yet unspectacular, router.
His dam, Tanglewood Tale, was a productive router who earned $200,000 in 18
starts.

GAME WINNER (15-1) Bob Baffert 9/29 American Pharoah
(G1)

Hung four wide in his first and only start, he took over in
hand, switched leads on cue and earned a 92 BRIS Speed figure in winning
comfortably over the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained 4-5 favorite Dueling, who had
finished a fast-closing second the start before behind stablemate Rowaytan.
There is some route in Game Winner’s pedigree and he looks like one to keep a
serious eye on.

Pedigree – By Candy
Ride, second foal to race out of Indyan Giving by A.P. Indy. Sold for $110,000
as a yearling. His half-brother Flagstaff is a promising four-year-old gelding who
has made only three starts. His dam, Indyan Giving, is unraced, but granddam
Fleet Indian won 13 of 19 lifetime starts, including the Personal Ensign (G1), banked
more than $1.7 million and was honored with an
Eclipse
Award
as the 2006 champion older mare.

GUNMETAL GRAY (10-1) Jerry Hollendorfer 9/29 American Pharoah (G1)

An even fifth behind Roadster in his debut over six
furlongs, the gray colt improved immensely when stretched out to a mile in the
follow-up start. Pressing the pace early, he took full command on the turn and
defeated the 9-5 favorite Jefe by nearly seven lengths (96 BRIS Speed figure)
and it was 11 1/2 lengths back to the show horse. He’s not as sexy as some of
more well-bred prospects on this list, but I know what I saw, and I liked it.

Pedigree – By
Exchange Rate, fifth foal to race out of Classofsixtythree by Include. A $85,000
RNA as a yearling, he sold for $225,000 as a two-year-old in training. Four
siblings have earned less than $100K combined. His dam, Classofsixtythree, was Grade
1-placed and earned just shy of $200,000, but none of her four siblings to race
banked more than $65,000.

ROWAYTON (20-1) Jerry Hollendorfer 9/3 Del Mar Futurity (G1)

Bet down to 4-5 against nine rivals in the debut, he did not
disappoint his backers, but of the 10 horses on this list, he was probably the
least impressive visually. Away from the cozy outside post cleanly, he enjoyed
a perfect pressing trip before taking the lead off the turn for home. He
quickly built a comfortable margin, but was on the wrong lead most of the
stretch while drifting in (88 BRIS Speed figure). He can certainly straighten
out any flaws with experience.

Pedigree – By
Into Mischief, first foal out of Rosemonde by Indian Charlie. A $320,000
yearling purchase. Unraced dam, Rosemonde, is a half to the versatile nine-for-24,
$520,000 earner and dual Canadian champion Miss Mischief, who is also by Into
Mischief. Rosemonde is also a half to two others who earned over $130,000.

Second best in his June 10 debut behind eventual Ellis Park
Juvenile runner-up
Whiskey Echo, he returned eight weeks later to score one of
the most impressive juvenile wins to date. Steadied and shuffled back slightly
early on, he took over and drew off to win by nearly 10 lengths, earning a 96
BRIS Speed figure. I like his chances not only in the Hopeful, but to stretch
out his talents moving forward.

Pedigree – By
Blame, fifth foal to race out of Extent by Pulpit. Claiborne Farm and Adele B.
Dilschneider homebred. Half to 2014 Iowa Oaks (G3) winner and $212,000 earner
Size. His dam, Extent, is a half to $714,000 earning router Cease and two others
who have earned over $155,000.

Bred to route, and perhaps on grass, this gorgeous gray
debuted with a sprint win way back on June 7 at
Churchill
Downs
. Ridden from the outset but trailing last of the field of six early,
he circled the field and won going away. His 83 BRIS Speed figure is dwarfed by
the other horses on this list but, by all accounts, he should only become more
dangerous with added distance. Don’t be discouraged if he runs just an average
race on Monday. His best days should be much further in front of him.

Pedigree – By
Tapit, seventh foal to race out of To Dream About by Monarchos. John Oxley
homebred. Full brother to 2017 Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner Dream Dancing, who has
the vast majority of her $483,000 bankroll on turf, and a half-brother to three
others who have earned over $99,000. His dam, To Dream About, was unraced, but
she’s a half to a pair of $400,000+ earners, both of whom were dirt routers.
His granddam Beautiful Pleasure won six Grade 1s, including the
Breeders’
Cup Distaff (G1)
, en route to earning more than $2.7 million and being
honored with an Eclipse Award as the 1999 champion older mare.

Off slowly in his career debut at Churchill, he would just
miss behind eventual
Sanford (G3) runner-up Strike Silver. He broke much more
alertly the second time around, and was urged to show speed and hold position
at the rail before extending the margin of victory to 3 1/4 lengths at the wire
(90 BRIS Speed figure). The short comment says he won “driving,” but I counted
only three taps of the whip. It was mostly a strong hand ride. Very talented,
but I’m thinking sprinter.

Pedigree – Tapit,
first foal out of Speedinthruthecity by City Zip. Winchell Thoroughbreds
homebred, partnered with Stonestreet Stables to race. Minor stakes-winning and
graded-placed sprint dam Speedinthruthecity was seven-for-19 in her career and
earned just over $400,000. Her only sibling of note is the versatile $134,000
earner Next Exit.

Dismissed at odds of 8-1 in his debut, due in part to the
obscure pedigree, he broke a step slowly before settling into a stalking
position. In tight at the rail, he came out at the top of the stretch, ground down
the leader, and drew away late (90 BRIS Speed figure). He was under a ride most
of the way, which hints at a desire for more ground.

Pedigree – By the
$2,500 first-crop sire Mark Valeski, second foal out of Sandy Key Gal by Put It
Back. Sold for $95,000 as a two-year-old in training. His dam, Sandy Key Gal,
won three races, all on grass, and earned just over $100,000.